Company extends benefits to live-in, same-sex partners

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATE) - The Manila office of Thomson Reuters has introduced a landmark company policy making domestic partners and same-sex partners eligible as dependents and beneficiaries for company benefits.

The policy is already in place in Thomson Reuters offices in the United States and United Kingdom, but the first to be implemented in its offices in Asia.

Thomson Reuters Manila’s single employees with domestic partners, either heterosexual or same sex, may now enroll them as qualified dependents under its healthcare plan, and as qualified beneficiaries under its group life insurance plan and retirement plan.

The company has identified a list of criteria for eligibility, as well as documentation requirements, for domestic partners to avail of company benefits.

Domestic partnership is used to describe a committed relationship between unmarried individuals, either same sex or heterosexual.

Thomson Reuters Senior Site Officer and Head of Human Resources Peter Buenaseda said the company embraces diversity to drive innovation and deliver competitive advantage.

"We foster an inclusive workplace where all employees are valued and have the opportunity to reach their full potential," he said.

Thomson Reuters currently has over 2,200 staff working in the Philippines.

The New York-headquartered Thomson Reuters combines industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, government, intellectual property and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization.